One of a kind and an incredible women who focused on helping her community was how a friend described Grabouw female empowerment activist Alfra Cox.
The director of Designers without Borders in South Africa died on Christmas Eve, two days before her 50th birthday.
“My mother passed away after attending a church ceremony with close family,” her daughter Petra said. “She was known by many for her selfless efforts to build our community and improve the lives of its inhabitants. We feel at ease, because we know that it is God’s plan.”
She said her mother had died from undiagnosed diabetes.
One of the organisers of Designers without Borders in Denmark related her journey with Cox on Facebook: “In 2015 life led me to Grabouw where I met a strong, caring, intelligent and talented woman. The meeting led to a long partnership sharing our passion to work for and with the youth in Grabouw. In this way we provide people with hope and the tools to go out and create a better future for themselves and their communities.”
By all accounts, she succeeded in accomplishing this, continuously and selflessly dedicating every waking hour to supporting and mentoring the youth of Grabouw and surrounding communities.
A memorial service was held for Cox on Thursday 30 December. She is survived by her three daughters, two grandchildren and her parents.
A statement from Designers without Borders South Africa says: “Alfra was more than our executive director. In the organisation we referred to her as Tannie. And sometimes Mammie because she treated all the children like her own.”. Designers without Borders is a South African NPO with a mission to create peaceful, inclusive and equal communities through female and youth empowerment. It works to empower young people to become active local and global citizens. The organisation aims to inspire and encourage them to take part in designing a better future for themselves and others.
It focuses particularly on non-formal education through skills development and social entrepreneurship training for youth living in poor, rural communities.
Clients learn to design, develop and implement sustainable entrepreneurship projects that foster their potential and give them a voice and a future.
Designer without Borders believes girls and women are critical agents of change.
Investing in girls and women is a force multiplier, and can be a powerful catalyst for development, a focus amounting to “positive discrimination”.
In essence it is a strategy to maximise impact.
Petra will follow in her mother’s footsteps and looks forward to the new challenge.